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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has officially announced that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will host the first-ever Olympic esports event in 2025.
The landmark decision marks a key step in the integration of esports into mainstream sport and has the potential to redefine the Olympic movement.
The IOC and the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee have signed a 12-year partnership, cementing Saudi Arabia’s position as the hub for esports at the Olympics. The Kingdom’s significant investment in esports, coupled with its thriving esports ecosystem, makes it an ideal choice for this event. Notably, Saudi Arabia is currently hosting the Esports World Cup, demonstrating its commitment to fostering a vibrant esports community.
IOC President Thomas Bach said: “We are very proud to be working with the Saudi Olympic Committee (SOC) for the Olympic esports competition, as the organization has extensive, if not unique, expertise in the field of esports that is relevant to all stakeholders. The Olympic esports competition will benefit greatly from this experience. By working with the SOC, we are also ensuring that Olympic values are respected, especially in terms of the competition program, promoting gender equality, and attracting a younger audience, who are embracing esports.
“The Women’s Committee, led by IOC member Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud, has played an important role in advancing women’s sports in Saudi Arabia. They have worked closely with the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee to achieve this progress. Having their support to advance female participation in esports is a valuable commitment. We look forward to our collaboration.”
His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, Minister of Sports and President of the Olympic and Paralympic Committee of Saudi Arabia, said: “Saudi Arabia is very excited about the prospect of working with the IOC and helping to usher in a new era in international sport. We believe that participating in the Olympic Games is one of the greatest honours any athlete can receive. We are proud to support writing a new chapter in Olympic history, which has the potential to inspire new dreams and aspirations for millions of athletes around the world.
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